Loose-leaf ledger.



(No Modol'.)

J. BARKER.

LOOSE LEAF LEDGEB.

(Application filed Dec. 8, 1900.)

Patented Aug. 27, I90I.

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fnn enwor Jiuvves Bar/0* NITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

JAMES BARKER, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES F.- BAOKUS, OF SAME PLACE.

LOOSE-LEAF LEDGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 681,432, dated August 27, 1901.

Application filed December 3, 1900. Serial No. 38,520. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES BARKER, a citi zen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Loose-LeafLedgers,-of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention has reference generally to ledgers of the loose-leaf type, the covers of which are adjustable to allow of the insertion or withdrawal of the ledger-leaves; and the invention consists in novel and simple means for adjusting the covers whereby the latter may be readily and quickly separated for the purposes set forth and subsequently clamped to the leaves.

The invention further consists in the peculiar arrangement and combination of the various parts of the adjusting or separating mechanism, as will be more fully hereinafter set fOltll;

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective View of a loose-leaf ledger embodying my invention, and Fig. 2 is a sectional end elevation thereof.

In the drawings thus briefly referred to the reference-letters A and B designate the top and bottom covers of the ledger, each of which comprises two parts, the cover proper, C, and a clamping member D, hinged to the cover proper in any suitable manner.

E designates posts, preferably telescopic in construction, arranged intermediate the covers, forming vertical guides for the clamping members D.

The upper clamping member is provided at its ends with bearings a, and in these bearings is swiveled the screw-shaft F, having right and left hand threads G and H, respectively, thereon. One end of the screw-shaft projects beyond one side of the ledger and is squared to permit of its being engaged by a suitable key. The screw-shaft described constitutes the preferable form of operating device for driving either toward or away from each other two movable members I and J, preferably in the form of nuts arranged upon the screw-shaft, as shown, one for and engaging each thread. The upper clamping member D is provided with a vertical slot K, ex-

tending longitudinally thereof, as shown, through which the movable members, each carrying an apertured ear a extend, as plainly indicated in Fig. 2.

L and L designate rigid connections extend ing diagonally from the movable members de' scribed to the opposite or lower clamping member, as illustrated. These connections are in the form of rigid links, each having a pivotal connection with an ear upon its respective nut and also with the lower clamping member near one end. The movable members re-' ferred to are so arranged upon the screw shaft that upon the actuation of the operat ing device in one direction they may be driven toward each other, thereby clamping the clamping members upon the sheets, and upon the movement of said operating device in the opposite direction will separate the covers.

From the above description of the mechan' ism it will be seen that the same is exceed-- ingly simple and therefore inexpensive, and that by employing single rigid links as the oonnectin g means between the movable mem- I bers and the clamping member a greater range of separation for the covers may be obtained than by means heretofore employed for this purpose.

What I claim as my invention is- In a loose-leaf ledger, the combination with the top and bottom covers, clamping members hinged thereto, the upper member having a vertical slot formed therein and extending lengthwise of the member as shown, telescoping posts between the members,bearings upon the ends of the upper member, a shaft swiveled in the bearings and provided with a left and a right hand screw-thread, nuts threaded upon the shaft and extending within the slot in the upper clamping member, ears depending from the nuts and projecting below the slotted member, and diagonallyextending rigid links pivoted to the ears and to the lower clamping member, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES BARKER.

WVitnesses:

W. S. YEAZEL, J. F. LEwIs. 

